Honda Civic Hybrid Service
Technical Editor Larry Carley discusses servicing the Honda Civic Hybrid, now in its third generation, with more than 200,000 cars sold to date since its introduction to the U.S. market in 2002 as a model year 2003, and highlights repair opportunities in diagnosing battery problems and various maintenance items.
Diagnosing Faulty Spark Plug Wires
Ignition systems have changed a great deal in recent years, with coil-on-plug (COP) ignition systems being the most common setup on many late-model engines. COP ignition systems have a single coil for each spark plug mounted on top of the plug. This setup eliminates the need for a spark plug wire and the troubles it can cause. Most other distributorless ignition systems (DIS) still have plug wires, as do older vehicles with distributors.
Suspension Tech: Monotube Shocks and Struts
When the monotube design was invented back in the 1950s, it was a revolutionary breakthrough in shock absorber technology. The floating piston and high pressure gas charge solved the foaming problem that had plagued conventional hydraulic shocks for a long time.
Clean Diesel Surge Offers Diagnostic and Repair Opportunities for the Aftermarket
There’s a bright future for the latest generation of clean diesel cars and trucks, thanks to common rail high-pressure, direct-injection systems with sophisticated electronic controls that have transformed today’s diesels into clean-running, quiet and powerful power plants. As these vehicles come out of warranty, it will create new diagnostic and repair opportunities for the aftermarket.
Tech Feature: Troubleshooting Internal Errors – Solving Piston and Ring Breakdowns
Rings that do not seal well during all four phases of the four-cycle combustion process can reduce an engine’s power potential by 20, 30, 40 or more horsepower, depending on the engine’s displacement, compression ratio and speed. Rings that leak during the intake stroke will reduce air velocity and volumetric efficiency.
Tech Feature: Straight Up Look at the Vortec 3500 Straight-Five Engine
The five-cylinder was seen as a way to achieve better fuel economy and performance than the six, but with more power and torque than the four.
Wheel Bearings
Wheel bearings can be of either ball or tapered roller type. The ball bearings used for front wheel bearing applications are an angular type. An angular-type ball bearing will accept greater thrust loads than a Conrad-type bearing, which will accept a 100 percent load in the radial or thrust position and any combination of a 100 percent load. A tapered roller bearing will accept both a radial and a thrust load. All wheel bearings come in sets.
Tech Feature: Care and Feeding of Differentials
The lubricants that are used in manual transmissions, transaxles, differentials and transfer cases include a variety of different oils. Many transmissions, transaxles and transfer cases use gear oil with viscosities ranging from 75W-90 up to 85W-140. Others use ATF (Dexron II/III, Mercon V, etc.) or even motor oil (10W-30 or 10W-40). Most differentials, by comparison, use hypoid gear oils that also contain extra amounts of “extreme pressure” (EP) additives.
Flexing Rocker Arm Muscle
How a Time Tested Technology Has Provided Proven Performance
Tech Feature: Active Motor and Trans Mounts
Motor mounts serve an important function: They support the weight of the engine and transaxle (or transmission), and also isolate engine vibration from the rest of the chassis. With so much emphasis on controlling noise, vibration and harshness in late model luxury vehicles, it was inevitable that sooner or later motor mounts would go electronic.
Tech Feature: Diagnosing Push Button Keyless Start Systems
Push button keyless start systems began appearing on several import cars about six years ago, and are now being offered on more and more new vehicles, both import and domestic. Motorists say they like the push button keyless start systems because they are convenient to use. There’s no ignition key or switch to fumble with, and you don’t have to do anything other than have the smart fob in your pocket or purse when you get in the car.
BRAKE JOB: 2005-Current Ford Mustang
Many of these cars are now reaching the point where it’s time for their first brake job. The original equipment front disc brake pads are typically lasting about 45,000 miles with normal driving. But many people who buy Mustangs don’t drive “normally.” Consequently, they may be wearing down the front pads in as little as 25,000 miles.